Part 41 (1/2)

Dean flashes me a heart-stopping grin. ”No, they were just curious. And I think they were more attracted to the heat from the engine than by fresh meat. It was pretty awesome.”

”It sounds pretty awesome.” I consider this. ”Let's go camping-but at a campground. I like being close to nature, but I also like having access to indoor plumbing. There are some really nice places in Oregon that I know of. We should check it out someday.”

I sneak a glance over at him to see what he thinks of the idea, and to my relief, he's still smiling. ”We could do that,” he says. ”Anytime you want.”

I slide off the bed, and land right on top of him. He makes a grunting noise as the air is forced from his lungs at my weight. If he's not going to join me on the bed, there's nothing to stop me from getting on the floor with him.

I move into a kneeling position next to Dean, and nudge him in the ribs. ”Wednesday's Signing Day, huh? Are you nervous?”

Dean rolls onto his side, facing me. ”No,” he replies matter-of-factly.

”Even with the press conference?” I continue, leaning forward.

”It's not a big deal,” he replies distractedly. I realize he's staring at my braless chest. It always amazes me that I have the ability to turn him on when I know he's been with girls whose p.o.r.ntastic bodies make my own look like a ten year old boy's.

Turned-on Dean is soo hot.

I try to ignore the way his gaze lights fires in me that I'm certain only s.e.x with him can put out. Wednesday. Right. ”And you're still going with LSU, right?”

”That depends,” he says, lightly running his fingers over my bare leg, sending s.h.i.+vers in their wake.

My eyes widen in surprise. ”On what?”

”On you.” When I just stare at him, confused, he suddenly sits up. ”I can play ball anywhere. My only requirement is that you're there, too.”

”Are you serious?!” I can only gape at him. ”You'd still want to be with me?”

Dean just looks at me. ”Why do you think I keep asking you which colleges you've applied to? Why do you think I'm here almost every night?”

Wow, okay. I blow out a nervous breath, then wrinkle my nose at him. ”You'd really change schools for me?”

”Yes,” he says simply. And I believe him. Dean doesn't say things he doesn't mean.

I stare down at my fingers twisting nervously together. ”Well, it turns out, you may not have to. LSU happens to be one of the places I've applied to,” I confess.

Dean's eyes widen fractionally. ”Is that a lucky coincidence?”

”Well, I told you, I don't know where I want to go. You mentioned going there-and I decided to check it out online.” I shrug self-consciously. When I glance up and catch his smirk, I narrow my eyes at him. ”Don't get all c.o.c.ky about it! I only applied because I like the fact that it's an hour and a half away from New Orleans. I've always wanted to live there.”

He turns into serious Dean again, pulling me into his lap. ”Pick LSU, Juliet,” he murmurs close to my ear.

And just like that, I'm almost panting. Hordes of b.u.t.terflies start fluttering under my skin. d.a.m.n it, this isn't good. I can see myself agreeing to anything Dean asks, and I can't remember why that's a bad thing. Is it? Hm...

It bothers me that I want to give in so easily-I've done it before, remember? I changed schools for Johnny, and look what that got me. Okay, actually it ended up working out pretty d.a.m.n good so far-but that's not the point. I seem to be the kind of girl whose one pa.s.sion in life is the boy she's dating. I don't want to be that girl.

I wiggle off of Dean's lap, trying to create some s.p.a.ce between us. ”Why would I want to do that?” I ask, going for nonchalant.

When I stare at him expectantly, he sighs and runs a hand through his short dark hair. ”I'm not good at this,” he mutters.

”At what?” I raise my eyebrows at him.

Dean makes a frustrated noise. ”Telling you what you want to hear...how I feel about you.”

I scoot closer to him again. ”You don't have to,” I say softly. ”I was just giving you a hard time.”

He keeps his head down for the span of several heartbeats. When he looks up again, I am utterly entranced by the lovely clarity of his almost translucent eyes. ”I don't know any love poems, or anything,” he says, self-consciously rubbing a hand over his mouth.

”Dean.” I roll my eyes at him. ”You're face is a love poem.”

Humor lights his eyes. ”I think that's my line.”

”Yeah, right. My face is more like nursery rhyme.” I climb back into bed, and stare up at the ceiling.

The bed dips a little, and Dean's face suddenly appears over mine, bracing himself over me with his hands planted on either side of my head.

”I know what I want,” he says quietly, holding my gaze. ”I won't change my mind, and I don't cheat.”

Will I ever get used to that amazing face looking down at me with such intensity? I reach up to skim my fingers over his cheek, just to a.s.sure myself that he's real. ”I'm scared,” I admit.

”Of me?” he asks, moving inches closer.

I don't answer, because I don't know. Besides, Dean's lips are temptingly close. I raise up on my elbows, and close the short distance between us. Unable to help myself, I dive right into a full on R-rated kiss.

I love the way he reacts when I touch him-like someone losing a battle with himself. He lowers himself over me, pinning my hands above my head, and so easily we become lost in each other. I could be sublimely happy if we were the only two people in the world right now.

I can tell by his taut muscles that he's keeping himself on a tight leash. I don't help matters when I arch up against him, clearly breaking the ”don't tempt Dean” rules. He makes a strangled noise, and tries to draw back.

”Juliet,” he growls warningly.

”Dean,” I reply, putting everything I'm offering in that one syllable.

But he's shaking his head, trying to disentangle himself from me. ”Not until you're sure this is what you want.”

”I don't know,” I say, agitated. ”I mean, I really want to, but...”

”I know,” he says, holding himself off of me.

”I'm sorry,” I say, feeling the rock hard tension in his body.

”Don't be. I'd do anything for you,” Dean says fiercely, brus.h.i.+ng my hair back from my face.

I reach up to wind my arms around his neck. ”I would let you do anything to me,” I whisper recklessly.

I swear, something primal moves behind his eyes, and I half expect him to turn into a werewolf or something. Breathing hard, he pushes himself off of me. ”Don't say that to me,” he says in a dangerously low voice. ”You don't know what I want to do to you.”

Okay, now I'm curious. ”Is it something really kinky?”